The Burro’s Tail (Sedum morganianum) is a succulent plant recognized for its striking, cascading stems covered in plump, bead-like leaves. Native to southern Mexico and Honduras, its trailing growth habit makes it popular for hanging baskets. The Burro’s Tail naturally sheds its leaves easily, an adaptation for propagation in its native, rocky environment. This fragility means that dropped leaves or broken stems can easily be turned into new plants at home.
Preparing Cuttings and Materials
Gather your materials, including a sterile cutting tool, such as a clean knife or shears, and a specialized potting medium. A well-draining cactus and succulent mix is necessary, as standard potting soil retains too much moisture and will cause cuttings to fail.
The callousing period is the most important preparatory action and applies to both leaf and stem cuttings. Immediately after separating the material from the mother plant, lay it aside in a dry, shaded place for three to seven days. This allows the wound to dry out and form a protective, scab-like layer, or callus. The callus seals the cut tissue from bacteria and excessive moisture absorption upon planting, and skipping this step often results in the cutting rotting before it can establish roots.
Step-by-Step Leaf Propagation
Propagating the Burro’s Tail from individual leaves is common since they fall off easily. The goal is to remove the entire leaf intact, ensuring the small, rounded base where it meets the stem is undamaged, as new roots emerge from this point. Gently twisting the leaf from the stem is the cleanest way to achieve this while avoiding tissue tearing.
Once the leaves have fully calloused, lay them flat on the surface of your prepared succulent soil mix. The leaf base should be in contact with the soil, and you can slightly nestle the end into the dirt. Place the tray in a location that receives bright, indirect light. Tiny roots and a small plantlet (or pup) will eventually emerge from the calloused end.
Step-by-Step Stem Propagation
Stem cuttings result in a larger plant more quickly than leaf propagation. Use your sterile tool to cleanly cut a section of stem from the mother plant, ideally a few inches long. Carefully remove the leaves from the lower inch or two of the cutting to expose the bare stem that will be inserted into the soil.
After the cut end has formed a complete callus, plant the cutting directly into the well-draining soil mix. Use a pencil or chopstick to create a hole in the soil first to avoid scraping off the callus when inserting the stem. Position the cutting so the bare stem is buried, and gently firm the soil around it to keep it upright and stable.
Essential Care for New Propagations
After planting, the new propagations need proper conditions to successfully grow roots. Place the cuttings in a spot that receives bright, filtered light, avoiding the harsh intensity of direct afternoon sun that can scorch the unestablished tissue.
Watering technique differs for new propagations compared to mature succulents. Until roots form, the cuttings cannot efficiently absorb moisture, so deep watering should be avoided entirely. Wait for the roots to appear, which can take several weeks, and then lightly mist the soil surface near the leaf base or stem every few days to encourage development. Once new growth is visible and the plant is anchored, transition to the normal soak-and-dry watering method used for established Burro’s Tail plants.